title: Genetic susceptibility to infection-mediated preterm birth.
abstract: Preterm birth is a heterogeneous disorder that is responsible for significant neonatal morbidity and mortality. Intrauterine infection is implicated in a significant proportion of preterm birth-particularly in early gestation. Epidemiologic evidence supports a genetic component to infection overall and preterm birth in particular. Furthermore, a number of studies examining genes involved in pathogen recognition and our response to pathogens suggest a genetic susceptibility to infection-mediated preterm birth. On the whole, however, these studies have been difficult to replicate and explain only a small portion of the phenotypic variation in preterm birth. Given this, methodological considerations are emphasized to improve our understanding of the genetic susceptibility to infection-mediated preterm birth.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Magee-Womens Hospital, 300 Halket Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Himes
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Magee-Womens Hospital, 300 Halket Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. Electronic address: hsimhan@mail.magee.edu.
authors.forename: Hyagriv N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Simhan
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics*